Refrigerator cabinet and method of controlling and operating the same



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,399

L. G. COPEMAN REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND OPERATING THE SAME Flled Jan 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,399 L. G. COPEMAN REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND OPERATING THE SAME Filed Jan. 1927' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q '3 v N *7 Ana/V70 [lard y mm A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 21, 1928. I

L. G. COPEMAN REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING 3 4 1 I f M t g v J I Z M K 5% m u flw My PM A r z m H m 4% W U, m m ========c=== w .irm 7 Z w Z W, m m a? 7//////// A u 4 0 m I II \rll m nw w i w a N W k$ Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STA 1,681,399- TES PATENT OFFICE.

LLOYD G. oorEMAN, or FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR To CornMAN LABORATORIES COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

REFRIGERATOR CABINET AND METHOD OF CONTRbIiLIliTG- AND OPERATING THE SAME.

Application filed January 6, 1927. Serial No. 159,266.

This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and method of controlling and operating the same, and has to do particularly with cabinets of the larger type, such as ice cream cabinets containing a plurality of receptacles for receiving the ice cream cans and immersed in a body of brine or other non-freezing solution.

Heretofore in the manufacture of cabinets of the ice cream type utilizing mechanical refrigeration, the commercial tendency has been toward the use of more or less brine, and many attempts have been made to control the heat transfer to, and temperature of, the various containers or receptacles, some of which attempts have involved the circulation and positioning of the brine in various manners. However, these ice cream cabinets of the prior art have been open to many difficulties which have developed mostly after the servicing period has started. That is, the cabinets have given fairly satisfactory results greatly increase the efiiciency over the prior when first installed but various troubles have invariably sprung up after the installation and at the start of the servicing eriod. One of the main drawbacks to these ca inets' of the prior art involves the necessity of relatively expensive construction, particularly in the use of copper or similar metallic receptacles for receiving the ice cream cans. These cop per or metallic receptacles are usually all secured to a single top of the refrigerator structure and when any repairs or replacement has heretofore been necessary-in one or more receptacles it has been necessary to remove the entire top and all the cans of the cabinet, and usually, due to lack of space, and other reasons, it is necessary to remove-the brine from the tank. Among the various reasons for causing repair of the re ceptacles can be puncturing of the receplisted the frequent tacles by ice picks; thefrequent ruptur ng of the joints bythe dropping of the ice cream cans from a relatively great height; the corroding of the cans which makes them very unsanitary and the eating and seeping of the brine through the joints. Many other diificulties have been experienced in cabinets of this type, but the above constitute the main troubles experienced in the repair shops.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome these various difliculties experienced in refrigerating cabinets of the prior art and the type utilizing brine, and in addition to present a cabinet which is constructed to cabinets using metallic receptacles and to present a cabinet which is more compact, less expenslve to manufacture and much easier to handle.

More specifically, the present invention has to. do with the provision'of a cabinet of the brine type in whichthe units or receptacles are Independently positioned and supported whereby they may be removed separately, repaired or replaced without disturbing the other receptacles or units. Another important feature has to do with the novel constructzon of each separate unit receptacle and the manner of insulating the same to make posslble the utmost efliciency. These container un1ts are preferably formed of artificial stone, such as oxy-chloride cement, but they may be also formed of other similar materials. 1

Another feature of the present invention has to do with the provision of separate unit receptacles having a specific gravity greater than the brine and which receptacles are adapted to sink of their own weight in the brine, thus raising or lowering the level of the brine and making possible the repair or replacement with a minimum amount of trouble. This invention also contemplates a novel method of operation and control due to this novel structure and has to do with the positioning of the direct expansion medium at a novel point, and the provision of novel receptacle units of such size and weight whereby when the receptacles are inserted in place the brine level is raised to the required height for eflicient operation, but when such receptacles are removed the brine level lowers to make place for the repair operation or adjustments of the repair mechanism, Another novel method of operation resulting from the arrangement of the structure has to do with the maintaining of a relatively low level of brine in the tank, but at the same time making possible use of full length ice cream cans instead of the so called stub cans made necessary in the past. I r

- In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an ice cream cabinet embodying the principle of my invention and particularly illustrating the detail structure and arrangement of the various elements making up the complete cabinet.

, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the manner of lowering the level of the brine by simply removing the receptacle units.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section illustrating the preferred manner of positioning the receptacle or container'units and their arrangement with respect to the cooling unit.

Fig. 4.- is a fragmentary detail view of one of my novel container or receptacle units and showing the same provided with suitable means where it can be easily lifted or placed in the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the novel structure and manner of assembling the container units within the cabinet.

Although my invention has to do particularly with cabinets of the ice cream type utilizing brine, and although I have illustrated my invention in connection with an lee cream cabinet of the general standard type, it will be understood that the drawings are more or less diagrammatical and that my invention may be embodied in any type of refrigerating cabinet at all similar to the cabinet illustrated in the drawings. In Fig. 1 I have shown an ice cream cabinet which is constructed along standard lines, the cabinet being made up of suitable framework 1 and lined with insulating material, as at 2. The outside of the cabinet'is encased with suitable sheet steel sides 3 and a suitable brine tank 4 is positioned within the cabinet in the usual manner.

The top of the brine tank 4 terminates as shown at 5 instead of extending up to the metal top of the cabinet and being secured or welded thereto. Instead of the brine tank thus extending to the top of the cabinet, the top plate of the cabinet, which may be deslgnated 6, extends across the framework 2 and is provided with a series of apertures 7 for receiving the receptacles or container units about to be described. This top 6 may be very easily removed or put in place as desired, and is provided with a suitable nickel or other metallic top 8.

The container units which I utilize to carry out my invention may be generally designated 9 and are preferably formed of the oxy-chloride cement with a density greater than the specific gravity of the brine. These container units are preferably of predetermined diameter and height and of a predetermined thickness as will be more fully herein- --after described. The tops of the container units-are provided with suitable metallic fit tings 10 which are preferably cast within the container unit, and which elements 10 are rovided with suitable apertures for receivmg lifting tongs.

An annular insulating ring 11, of any suitable material such as bakelite, is preferably formed and adapted to be inserted at the top end of the container units 9, as best illustrated in Figsrl and 3. The container units are provides a uniform internal diameter for the reception of the ice cans, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. When the container units 9 are placed within the cabinet they preferably extend to a height slightly above the lower edge of the apertures 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The annular ring members 11 are made of such a hei ht as to extend slightl Y below the upper surface of the cabinet, dc med by the cover 8. To give the top of the cabinet a pleasing appearance and at the same time insure a tight insulating fit I have provided annular members 14 which preferably fit in suitable grooves turned in the insulating ring 11 and which thus take up any irregularity between the ring member 11 and the top of the cabinet.

The lids 15 for the container units are preferably formed of an insulating material with metallic top and bottom pieces, as clearl shown in cross section in Fig. 1, and suc lids are so proportioned that the insulating part of the lids contact with the insulating annular member 14.

A cooling unit which may be utilized in connection with my cabinet for effecting the cooling thereof may be designated, generally, 16 and may be of any form desired. As shown it comprises a cooling unit of the well known float type and it is preferably positioned as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A suitable opening is provided in the side wall of the cabinet, which may, if desired, extend to the top of the cabinet whereby the cooling unit may be easily removed either from the side or from the top. Any suitable refrigerating mechanlsm may be connected to the expanding or cooling unit in the well known manner.

' In manufacture and operation, the cabinet is fabricated, including the brine tank, top member, cooling unit, etc., so as to present practically a complete cabinet which may be shlpped to the user, as is now the resent pract ce. However, instead of shipping the conta ner units or receptacles with the cabinet I prefer to ship the cabinet without these units which enables me to provide a comparatively light cabinet which may be more read- 11y handled than is customary, and which may be much easier handled than if the cabinet were shipped with the heavy container units. When the cabinet has been installed at the place of use a predetermined amount of brine is poured into the cabinet so that it reaches a lever approximately that shown in Fig. 2, although it being understood that such level may vary considerably, the point being'that the level of the brine when the container units are withdrawn is relatively low and uncovers practically all of the cooling unit. The brine having been poured in the cabinet up to a fixed level the container units formed of cast stone or other holdover materials are then placed in the cabinet and preferably sink of their own weight to the bottom. This completely does away with the trouble heretofore experienced in placing all of the container ,units in the tank at one time, the brine having a buoyant effect on the container units making it difficult to fasten the cover and units in place.-

Having inserted the separate container units in place the brine level will be raised to a height approximately that as shown in Fig. 1, preferably a considerable distance from the top of the tank, as compared to prior practice of having as high level of brine as possible. The insulating ring members 11 are then placed within the aperture 7 and interfit with the container units 9, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The annular members 14. are then inserted in place whereby to compensate for any irregularities due to the height of the container members 9, or in case there is some protuberance on the bottom of the tank. The

free members constitutingthe container unit,

the ring member 11 and the annular member '14 being in interfitting relation present an opening of the same. diameter throughout whereby the ice cream can may be readily inserted or removed without any danger of catching any of the receptacle parts.

l/Vhen it is desired to remove or repair any part of the cooling unit, it is only necessary to remove some or all of the container'units which is very easily accomplished without tearing apart the cabinet by simply removing the separate container units. This will lower the level of the brine to the desired height whereby the cooling unit will be exposed for repair .or adjustment, or may be easily removed.

By providing separate container units of stone or similar material I have made it possible to remove any one, or more than one unit, in case any repairs should be a necessity.

without in any way affecting the'remainder of v the cabinet and without the necessity of having to remove the brine. If a container unit should be by some chance damaged, a service mancould very easily remove the stone pot and replace it with a new one in a very short space of time. Furthermore, the container being formed of a materialwhich is a good holdover as well as a conductor it will be obvious that the temperature of the cabinet is maintained much more constant and that the refrigerating apparatus will operate at less frequent intervals and for a shorter period of time. In other words, by using such container units as an additional holdover medium with-the brine it will tend to set up a much more constant, uniform temperature. Another feature resulting from this invention is the fact that the container units are very clean in appearance and sanitary in use and operation which condition is not the case in cabinets used at present with copper or similar container units. A still greater result of the use of stone container units is that they do not frost up as is the case when metal container units are used, with the result that the ice cream cans or other elements may be readily removed at any time.

In Fig. 1 I have shown one of the container units as being provided with a means for securing the same to the bottom of the brine tank. Such a securing means may be of any desired form, and as shown, it consists of a pin-and-bayonet slot arrangement. Such a securing means may be necessary when the stone walls are too thin or the material has a specific gravity of approximately the same orlighter than the specific gravity of the brine.

.By utilizing a solid holdover and conducting medium between the brine and the ice cream cans it will be obvious that the temperature will be maintained by the stone holdover at points considerably higher than the level of the brine. By reason of this phenomena I am able to use ice cream cans of full height and the holdover and conduction action of the stone container units will keep the portion of ice cream above the level of the brine solid at all times, whereas in the prior art it has been necessary to use stub cans or else throw away the part of the ice cream at the top which usually becomes too soft for use.

What I claim is: l

1. A. refrigerating cabinet comprising a brine tank and refrigerating means positioned therein, separately positioned and removable storage compartments for receiving container units and formed of a material acting as a holdover and conductor, the walls of tioned at the top of the storage compartment,

or compartments, to insulate the same from the top part of the cabinet.

2. A refrigerating cabinet of the type de signed to receive ice cream cans, or similar articles, comprising a brine tank, a non-conducting covering therefor and a metallic top for said covering, cast container units insertable within apertures in the covering and having tops extending up within said covering, and an insulating ring at the top of and in alignmeiit with said container unit.

3. A refrigerating cabinet of the type utilizing a non-freezing solution as a heat absorbing and holdover medium comprising separately removable storage compartments formed of a material having good holdover and conducting properties, said storage compartments extending a considerable distance above the height of the brine and into apertures provided in the cover of the cabinet, and insulating means positioned to insulate the top of the compartment from the top of the cabinet, said insulating means being in alignment with the compartments to permit eas insertion of ice cream cans, or similar articles.

4. An ice creanrc-abinet, or similar structure of the type having separately removable storage compartments, comprising an annular insulating member positioned at the top of and in interfitting relation with the storage compartment, and a second annular insulating member positioned at the top of the first named insulating member and cooperating therewith and with the top of the cabinet to make up for any discrepancy forthe positioning and height of the storage compartment.

5. A refrigerating cabinet of the type designed to receive ice cream cans or similar articles, comprising in combination a tank adapted to contain a non-freezing solution, a top for said tank containing a plurality of apertures, refrigerating means positioned within the tank for cooling the solution, and independent storage container units for receiving the cans or the like adapted to be separately inserted in said apertures and freely removable therefrom, and means other than the weight of the container for securing the separately inserted storage containers in position.

6. A refrigerating cabinet of the type designed to receive ice cream cans or similar articles, comprising a brine'tank adapted to contain a non-freezing solution, a .top for said tank containing a plurality of apertures, refrigerating means positioned within the tank for cooling the solution, separately positioned and removable storage compartments for the ice cream cans or the like formed of a material acting as a holdovcr and conductor, the brine in the tank being raised to a predetermined height by the insertion of the storage compartments, and the ice cream cans extending a relatively great distance above the level of the brine, the material in the top of the ice cream can being maintained at the proper ten'iperatnre by the conductivity and holdover properties of the storage compartment extending above the brine level.

7. A refrigerating cabinet of the type designed to receive ice cream cans or similar articles, comprising in combination a tank adapted to contain a non-freezing solution, refrigerating means including an evaporator positioned at a predetermined point within said tank, means for circulating the refrigerant from said evaporator for cooling the solution, a top for said tank containing a plurality of apertures, and independent storage container units for receiving the cans or the like adapted to beseparately inserted in said apertures and freely removable therefrom, said storage container units being of a predetermined size whereby when inserted in the tank the solution will be raised to a predetermined position relative to said evaporator and when one or more of said container units are removed the solution will be lowered with respect to said evaporator to permit removal or repair thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN. 

